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Marvel Studios has released another “new” TV spot for the highly-anticipated movie, Marvel’s The Avengers. I really like how they’re really stressing the “Marvel” portion. It really gets away from the trademark issues that were happening in the UK over the use of the name, “The Avengers.”

As this is the 6th television spot that has been recently released, it too has its own focus, this time being Captain America, titled “Back in Action”. Yes, some of the footage has already been seen, but there are a few snippets and text that make this spot original.

Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel’s The Avengers is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.”

The new film sports an all star cast. It includes:

Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man:

A self-described genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist with a mechanical suit of armor of his own invention. Becoming a superhero is obviously the best way to make people forget one’s a drunk and a reformed arms dealer. Honestly, Stark needs to run for President now.

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America:

A World War II veteran who’s convinced his only way to help in the war effort is to do drugs. As the poster boy for steroid use, Steve Rogers is enhanced to the peak of human physicality by an experimental serum. While the spot focuses on the Captain as the team leader, maybe they should have gone with someone more… PC. In the Ultimate series, the Captain doesn’t buy that he’s in the future. How does he arrive to this conclusion? He bases it on the premise that there aren’t any African-American soldiers who’ve made the rank of Colonel. “Must be a Nazi trick!” Next thing you know, women will be able to vote.

Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner / Hulk:

A genius scientist who somehow gets caught in the blast of his own science experiment. Forget fail safes and controlled environments. Due to the exposure to gamma radiation, Banner is transformed into a monster when enraged or excited. Ruffalo was cast after negotiations between Marvel and Edward Norton broke down.

Lou Ferrigno; the man behind the monster in the 1977 television series of the Hulk, will voice “The Hulk.” Lots of screaming and maybe some monosyllabic words. “Hulk… Smash!”

Chris Hemsworth as Thor:

The god of thunder and disco era armor. Thor which is based on the Norse deity of the same name is more a space alien than; thus saving religious issues being brought up in the movie. Hemsworth stated that he was able to maintain the strength he built up for Thor by increasing his food intake, consisting of a number of chicken breasts, fish, steak and eggs a day. Fine and dandy really, but does an actor ever have to pig out and get obese for their role? Probably, but not to be made of eye candy for those that like their men made of abs. Now excuse me while I go back to eating this tub of ice cream.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow:

A highly trained spy working for the international peacekeeping organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. “Her superpower set is using a gun and launching a luchador wrestling technique that disables men with her swinging crotch.”

Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye:

A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and master archer known in the comics as the “World’s Greatest Marksman”. While originally a superhero with a crippling obsession with bows and arrows, Hawkeye has had some proper reconstruction of his superhero background. Now his abilities are due to his specials eyes. Better than lasik, operations have allowed Hawkeye to squint his way into seeing his targets; his eyes utilize more muscles to constantly change the way he sees over long distance.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki:

Thor’s adoptive brother and nemesis based on the deity of the same name. Man, how did Odin the All Father not see any of this coming? I thought he had a plan for everything.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury:

The baddest director to ever walk the street for S.H.I.E.L.D. The Colonel was revealed in previous films to be coordinating the “Avenger Initiative” which I thought was the training program for potential Avengers. While he forgot to recruit Spider-Man and the Wolverine, Jackson was brought to the project with a deal containing an option to play the character in up to nine Marvel films.

Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill:

A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who works closely with Jackson’s Nick Fury. While in the comic she is pretty much a control freak and a raging bitch, I just don’t buy Smulders in the role. This is not “How I Met Your Mother”.

After being teased with it, the new trailer for Marvel’s The Avengers has finally been released. This after the new promotional poster for the film was revealed earlier this week which you can see above.

The plot continues the epic big-screen adventures started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.Marvel’s The Avengersis the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

I think this movie is going to be awesome primarily because of three people. Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and the best of them all, Joss Whedon (although don’t tell FOX he is working on it or they might try and get the movie cancelled. ba-zing.) I do plan to see it, and frankly, the trailer makes it look bad-ass.

This new film is being directed by the (incredibly amazing) Joss Whedon and and sports an all star cast. It includes:

Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man:

A self-described genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist with a mechanical suit of armor of his own invention.

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America:

A World War II veteran who was enhanced to the peak of human physicality by an experimental serum.

Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner / Hulk:

A genius scientist who, because of exposure to gamma radiation, transforms into a monster when enraged or excited. Ruffalo was cast after negotiations between Marvel and Edward Norton broke down.

Lou Ferrigno will voice the Hulk.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor:

The god of thunder based on the Norse deity of the same name. Hemsworth was cast as part of a multiple movie deal. Hemsworth stated that he was able to maintain the strength he built up for Thor by increasing his food intake, consisting of a number of chicken breasts, fish, steak and eggs a day.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow:

A highly trained spy working for the international peacekeeping organization, S.H.I.E.L.D.

Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye:

A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and master archer known in the comics as the “World’s Greatest Marksman”. Renner said it was a very physical role and that he trained physically and practiced archery as much as possible in preparation.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki:

Thor’s adoptive brother and nemesis based on the deity of the same name.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury:

The director of S.H.I.E.L.D., who was revealed in previous films to be coordinating the “Avenger Initiative”. Jackson was brought to the project with a deal containing an option to play the character in up to nine Marvel films.

Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill:

A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who works closely with Jackson’s Nick Fury.

Marvel’s The Avengers is opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D on May 4th. It is written and directed by (the amazingly awesome) Joss Whedon and stars Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgard.

You can watch the new trailer below and check out the new poster above if you missed it.

A new poster has hit the internet for the upcoming movie The Avengers, only one day before the new trailer kicks off. Adapted from Marvel comics, the Avengers are a team of superheroes who gather together to battle problems that each singly can not.

The eye catching poster features the main cast in in their superhero glory, posing ridiculously as they would in comic books. I’m more surprised that Black Widow isn’t showing more cleavage or more in a cheesecake position. It would have been more inline with the comic book industry standards of, “making it big.” Go google “black widow comic” and take a look. It seems that all superheroines have their hips permanently locked and should have problems moving. As silly as the poses are for the Avengers, it still strikes a chord of badassery. At least it’s not the Ginyu Force team pose.

The backdrop for the poster shows the heroes set in what appears to be a semi-destroyed New York still under attack. Without their headgear to obscure the star studded faces, the poster shows Chris Evans as the pro-drug use Captain America, Robert Downy Jr. as the Incredibly Pompous Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Space God of Thunder and Abs, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury; such a bad ass that he stopped being white, Jeremy Renner as the Bullseye version of Hawkeye, and a CGI Hulk who’s alter ego is played by Mark Ruffalo. Then we come back to Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow. Her superpower set is using a gun and launching a luchador wrestling technique that disables men with her swinging crotch.

The Marvel Comics that the movie is actually adapted from is called The Ultimates, a dark and gritty reboot of the Avengers franchise. The comics did well to distance itself from more campy versions of the Avengers and other complex storylines.

Too bad the poster in the U.K will label the upcoming film adaptation as “Avengers Assemble.” Which is understandable because the Brits have their own team of heroes that fight crime called The Avengers.

In the states, the Marvel comics version of The Avengers debuted in September 1963. While in the U.K. Citizens tuned in to watch a spy adventure television show January 1961. It was also called the Avengers which was well produced before Marvel ever started cranking out their comics. So to protect everyone from confusion; and obvious questions about trademarks and copyright laws; it was probably for the best that the movie was renamed. Though I think Ultimate Avengers would have been better move.

One of the more memorable opening sequences of the show explained the spy adventure succinctly:

“Extraordinary crimes against the people, and the state, have to be avenged by agents extraordinary. Two such people are John Steed, top professional, and his partner Emma Peel, talented amateur. Otherwise known as The Avengers.” The opening narration would then cut to the theme song.

Though it happened so long ago, doesn’t make it any less of a cultural icon. I grew up on black and white versions of the show, and still to this day want a sword umbrella. A real proper gentleman one. Not a samurai sword handle umbrella or a shiv umbrella. That and add a intelligent, yet beautiful sidekick wearing a catsuit. That wouldn’t be bad either.

There was a collective geekasm on the internet following the Super Bowl as comic book fans went wild over the slew of commercials aired. For some, waiting for the ads to be released online was more entertaining than the sport itself; I know that I enjoyed watching the over the top commercials.

In the commercial lineup were a number of trailers with never seen before footage and Marvel’s The Avengers did not disappoint. Opening on May 4 in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters, the film directed by Joss Whedon; Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog, All Things Nerdawesome!; will feature a large list of stars and heroes. There’s Robert Downey Jr. as the Arrogant Iron Man, Chris Evans as Evil Ex… Er… Uhm… I mean Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, God of Abs; Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow; with superpowers of martial arts and using a gun; Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye; Updated to be more like Bullseye but more badass; Tom Hiddleston as the anemic Loki, Stellan Skarsgård as some supporting character from the Thor movie that analyzes the cosmic cube, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

The Avengers team lineup has changed a number of times throughout the ages, but with tie ins from other Marvel movies, I expected; no, wanted; to see Spider-man and Wolverine part of the assembled crew. Spider-man for his wise cracks; doesn’t need alcohol like Stark; and Wolverine for his no-nonsense slice you up attitude. The movie seems to be based on one of Marvel’s many reboots of their comic universes, this one being their Ultimates series.

With the end of movie Easter Eggs for the Avengers related scenes peppered throughout other Marvel superhero movies, the excitement has been building for a long time. I thought it was getting so out of hand; and awesome; that I was sure I was going to see Nick Fury show up at the end of Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World and invite Mister Pilgrim to join the Avengers.

Black Sabbath T-Shirt: Check. Ironman on full blast: Check.

Besides the hype and internet agreement that the trailer delivered the good, it’s the little things about the trailer which makes me want to see the movie. First there’s Tony Stark referring to the Avengers as “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” which puts the Amazing in Spider-man and Incredible into Hulk. Then there’s Stark wearing a Black Sabbath shirt; I Am Ironman!; playing knifey-spoony with Loki. The best part of the trailer is the protective circle of win made by all the Avengers in a circle crane shot; better than any slow motion shot of the heroes walking in a line over debris and fire.

This is actually a bummer, (although witches everywhere are elated). It has recently been reported that the release of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters will be held up by nearly a year. Continue reading →

The popular children’s fairy tale is getting an unique twist that is sure to make you rethink those typical “happy endings” in similar stories. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we get some first looks at the new adaptation. Continue reading →